Improving both speed and strength when swimming

Question
QUESTION: I've been swimming for only about 5 months now and have advanced quite nicely but recently I have noticed that I seem to no longer be increasing my speed during practice and I'm truly concerned that I'm actually getting slower. My main stroke is freestyle on the 50yd and 100yd individual events as well as the 400yd and 200yd relays. My fastest time this season was 25.08 on the 50yd free and 56.2 for the 100yd free. I however have been trying to reach out and experiment with strokes such as butterfly and breast stroke, but I don't seem to be improving whatsoever.
 Another thing that I was wondering was if there is any specific workout or drills that I could do to improve my strength in the water, meaning that I can pull more water and kick stronger without too much fatigue.
thanks for reading! And any of your input would be most certainly appreciated

ANSWER: David,
There are many things you can do to help your speed and strength.  I want to make sure you are training with a coach though.  Training with  coach is ideal for improving in any sport.  Your coach should be the primary contact and person dealing with your training plan.  If you are not swimming on a team or with a coach, I suggest you join a team.  This will be the easiest way to quickly improve.

Swimming is an endurance sport more or less.  Since we don't swim to move around on land, we need to practice it very regularly to improve.  This being said, training consistently is essential to a healthy improvement in the sport.  Make sure you train a regular basis.

I would like to know a little more about your situation before going further.  Please answer the following questions:
* How often do you swim?
* How far do you swim with you do?
* What is your age?
* Have you worked out with a team?
* What are your specific goals?

These will help me help you further.
Eric

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank You For your Reply.

to answer your Questions:
* How often do you swim? : Every week day for 1 1/2 hours (3:30 - 5:00)
* How far do you swim with you do? usually 3000 to 4500 yards
* What is your age? 16
* Have you worked out with a team? The Rickards High Swim Team
* What are your specific goals? 50 free = 23 sec (current time = 25.08), 100 free = 53 sec (current time = 56.2 sec), and 100 Butterfly = 1:05 (current time = I don't know cause I've never swam this stroke in a meet, only in practice)

I also am currently swim with the Area Tallahassee Aquatics Center (ATAC) and I ask my coach many things, but due to the amount of swimmers on the team she hardly ever comes around to answering my questions completely.

Answer
I am actually familiar with ATAC.  I used to swim for Pine Crest in Fort Lauderdale.

It sounds like you are doing good at conditioning.  However there is nothing worse than "GARBAGE YARDAGE".  Make sure that you are truly concentrating on your technique while swimming every stroke in practice.  You are going to compete like you practice!  Remember that.

I still stand behind the fact that you are in an endurance sport.  The more regular you swim, the better you will be.  You just need to make sure that you are swimming properly.  Dryland workouts can truly help improve your strength.  Running can help with your cardiovascular.  I would say that working on drills such as fingertip drag, catch-up, and skulling can help you fine-tune your technique.

Being that you are so new to the sport, I am sure that your technique still needs some polishing.  Think about that from now on.  There are some swimmers out there who power through the water.  Others have more finesse.  The best have been able to combine both.

I would corner your coach and ask her what specific areas you could work on technically.  Try to set up a meeting with her outside of practice.  It's so hard to critique what you need without seeing you swim.

I hope that this helps out a bit.
Eric